Young Children’s Participation in Homeschooling During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Reflective Case Study From England

TY - CHAP

T1 - Young Children’s Participation in Homeschooling During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Reflective Case Study From England

AU - Tang, Fengling

PY - 2023/6/9

Y1 - 2023/6/9

N2 - Advocacy for child participation has been enhanced by the United NationsConvention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (1989). The UNCRC as alegislative mechanism for countries to implement children’s rights toparticipation is not without problems as argued by many. Children’s agencyis crucial in enhancing their participation but agency itself cannot guaranteeparticipation as child participation is relational and intersects with theinstitutional, social, cultural, economic and political landscapes. This isgreatly reflected during the coronavirus pandemic when children have playeda big part in tackling the national and global crises by showing their resilience,sympathy and willingness in fitting into the unprecedented ways of lifeand schooling.This chapter uses a reflective case study to explore the intersectionbetween agency of children and factors that facilitate and also challengechildren’s participation in homeschooling practices during the COVID-19pandemic in England. The reflective case study reveals that agency of youngchildren’s participation in homeschooling was constrained by the pandemic,which also triggered off possibilities for children alongside family membersto interpret learning differently and translate homeschooling practices viacreative engagement with learning resources and pedagogical approaches.The reflective case study also tells a family narrative about children’sparticipation in homeschooling during the COVID-19 pandemic as a journeywith a prime focus on holistic learning and well-being by addressing the keyrole of play, friendship and connection with nature.

AB - Advocacy for child participation has been enhanced by the United NationsConvention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (1989). The UNCRC as alegislative mechanism for countries to implement children’s rights toparticipation is not without problems as argued by many. Children’s agencyis crucial in enhancing their participation but agency itself cannot guaranteeparticipation as child participation is relational and intersects with theinstitutional, social, cultural, economic and political landscapes. This isgreatly reflected during the coronavirus pandemic when children have playeda big part in tackling the national and global crises by showing their resilience,sympathy and willingness in fitting into the unprecedented ways of lifeand schooling.This chapter uses a reflective case study to explore the intersectionbetween agency of children and factors that facilitate and also challengechildren’s participation in homeschooling practices during the COVID-19pandemic in England. The reflective case study reveals that agency of youngchildren’s participation in homeschooling was constrained by the pandemic,which also triggered off possibilities for children alongside family membersto interpret learning differently and translate homeschooling practices viacreative engagement with learning resources and pedagogical approaches.The reflective case study also tells a family narrative about children’sparticipation in homeschooling during the COVID-19 pandemic as a journeywith a prime focus on holistic learning and well-being by addressing the keyrole of play, friendship and connection with nature.

KW - Child participation, agency, decision-making, homeschooling, well-being, play, friendship, connection with nature, reflective case study

M3 - Chapter

SN - ISBN: 978-1-80455-941-3

VL - II

SP - 91

EP - 108

BT - Establishing Child Centred Practice in a Changing World, Part B

A2 - FRANKEL, SAM

PB - Emerald

CY - UK

ER -